Game-counter



(No Model.)

G. DEIMEL. GAME COUNTER.

No. 453,078. Patented May 26, 1891.

ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAVE DEIMEL, OF HANCOCK, MICHIGAN.

GAME-COUNTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 453,078, dated May 26, 1891.

' Application filed August 23,1890. Serial No. 362,850- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

7 Be it known that I, GUSTAVE DEIMEL, of Hancock, in the county of H oughton and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Base-Ball-Game Register and Indicator, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to an improved means for registering the points in a game of baseball, known technically as the score, and has for its objects to provide a simple, compact, and convenient device whereby the complete score can be readily kept and conspicuously exhibited as the game progresses.

To these ends my invention consists in certain features of construction and combination of parts, as is hereinafter described, and indicated in the claims.

- Reference is to be hadto the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a front and rear view of the device. Fig. 2 is a side elevation in section taken on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1, a broken supporting-standard being also shown. Fig. 3 is an elevation in section taken on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2, showing interior parts which are duplicated in the case; and Fig. at is a reduced view of the casing of the device on a standard complete.

The casing A, which contains and supports the mechanism of the register, is preferably made circular in contour and flat on opposite sides.

To facilitate the introduction of parts with in the casing A it is made in two sections, the main section having its peripheral flange 1 of such a relative diameter that the flange 2 on the other section will slide within it and be there secured by any suitable means, so as to afford a cylindrical case. The opposite sides 3 at of the casing A are properly considered face-plates for the device, whereon are exhibited the progressive stages of the game by proper movement of interior parts.

The essential points in the game to beregistered are technically designated the innings, runs, strikes, and outs on bases, which are separately exhibited by the device on each of its sides 3 4, as it is designed to set the register and indicator upright on a standard B, so that the spectators and clubs, as well as umpire of the game, may note the progress of the game as the scorekeeper puts up the points on the register.

Upon both of the faceplates 3 and 4c of the casing A, near the periphery and at the top, the words Half Inning are placed in conspicuous letters, these words being located a sufficient distance apart to permit the oppo site apertures 5 to be cut through the faceplates between said words for the exhibition of the number of the inning by means which will be further explained.

On the faces 3 4 of the register, aligning with the word half on each face, the numeral and letters 1st are permanently formed, so that the legend will read 1st half inning, with the number of the inning between the last two words named. In order to convenientlychange the 1st to 2nd half inning, the latter-named numeral and letters are placed on similar rectangular pieces of sheet metal or other material, which are pivoted at one corner to the face-plates 3 at, at proper points, so that by rocking the plates 6 toward the word I'lalf on each faceplate the movable plates will completely cover the symbol 1st and substitute the designating figure and letters 2nd therefor.

On the same pivots 7 which support the plates 6 revolubly the blank cover-plates 8 are loosely retained by an engagement therewith of their perforated corners. The similarlyformed plates 6 and 8 are so relatively located that when the plates 6 are swung around to remove them from above the figure and letters 1st the blank plates 8 maybe made to cover the plates 6, and both pair of plates be completely removed from the permanent symbol 1st on the face-plates 3 at. Two small pins 9 project oppositely from the face-plates 3 at, on which pins the edges of the cover-plates 0 S will impinge when they are adjusted to conceal the permanent figure and letters 1st. At the radial centers of the plates 3 4, round perforations of proper diameter are formed, which center holes are designed to admit a center-shaft 10 and sleeves that are mounted on it, said shaft projecting through and beyond the plates 3 at, for a purpose which will appear. On the shaft 10, near its longitudina-l center, the circular disk 1.1 is placed and secured, so that its peripheral edge will be concentric with and near to the inner surface of the flange 1 on face-plate 3. Said disk 11 is marked on each side near its periphery with a series of numbers or integers that increase in value consecutively from and including 1 to any desired number. These integers represent the innings played by each side or club, and the correct number is made to appear opposite thekeystone-shaped aperture 5 on each side of the register-case A. The small hand-wheels being secured on the extremities of the shaft 10 afford means to rotate and adjust the disk 11 at aproper point. Upon the shaft 10 two sleeves 12 are loosely mounted to revolve, which sleeves extend outwardly near to the hubs of the hand-wheels 10, and on their inner ends are located the pair of score-wheels 13 which are adjacent to the disk 11.

There are two pairs of score-wheels needed to record the runs made by each club during a game, and to facilitate the compact construction of the registering device the one pair 13 is employed to record the runs of the home club, and have a greater diameter than the other pair of score-wheels 14, to be described in their order. On the outer sides of the two score-wheels 13 equally-spaced num' bers, from 1 upward, are formed near the edges of said wheels, which wheels are peripherally notched with ratchet-teeth. The scorewheels 13 are retained at any point of revoluble adjustment by the pawls 13, which are pivoted upon the sides of the disk 11 at such points as will permit their free ends to mesh with the teeth of the score-wheels 13, and to enforce such a contact the pawls are elastically engaged by the finger springs 15, as shown in Fig. 3.

Upon the projecting ends of the sleeves 12 the index-levers 16 are secured by set-screws or other means, and on their exposed faces the words Home Club are imprinted.

At a proper point on each of the face-plates 3 t circular or other shaped apertures 17 are cut in said plates to expose the figures on the score-Wheels 13 successively as the indexlevers 16 are moved to put on record the runs made. The score-wheels 1e are of equal diameter, which is so relatively diminished that the score-numbers on the wheels 13 will not be covered by them, the score-wheels 14L having the sleeves or barrels 14: projected from their apertured centers on one side of each wheel, which barrels are of a diameter that will permit their revoluble engagement with the sleeves 12, on which they are mounted. ,The barrels 14 project sufficiently outside of the face-plates 3 4 to receive the index-levers 18, that are thereto secured by any preferred means, said levers, when moved in the proper direction,serving to adjust the smaller scorewheels 14, that are intended to indicate the number of runs made by a visiting club, and on said wheels 14: the score-numbers are affixed near their peripheries, which numbers are evenly spaced and equal in number with the similar score-numbers on the larger scorewheels 13.

On the index-levers 18 the wordVisitors is preferably placed, as shown in Fig. 1, and at 19 there are opposite sight-apertures cut in the face-plates 3 4 to exhibit through said apertures the number of runs made by the visiting club when these are registered by the score-keeper, the wheels 14: being retained at any desired point of revoluble movement by the pawls 20 and finger-springs 21, as shown in Fig. 3.

Upon the exposed surfaces of the faceplates 3 t the legends Home Club and Visitors are placed opposite the sight-apertures 17 and 19, respectively, to designate the runs made by each club during a game, and as the device is made of sufficient size to render the legends and score-numbers plainly visible from either side of the casing A it is evident that if properly placed and the record made by the movement of the wheels 13 and 14 the spectators and players will be simultaneously advised of the status of the game during its progress.

To provide for the convenient registration and conspicuous display of the number of players put out during each inning and the strikes made by the opponents in the game, there are two smaller dial-wheels 22 furnished, which dial-wheels are supported to rotate by the journal-pins 23, that are each axially projected from one side of adial-wheel and loosely engage perforations formed in the face-plates 3 4: at a suitable point below the shaft 10. The journal-pins 23 are of such a length as will allow them to extend outside of the face-plates 3 t and receive the crankhandles 2%, that are secured upon them, and afford means for the rotary adjustment of the dial-wheels, as may be required.

Upon the front side of each of the dialwheels 23 two concentric rows of figures a b are affixed, the outer row cthaving a location near to the peripheral edge of the wheel,which row has series of numerals arranged in groups at equal distances apart, the several groups each being comprised of the integers 1 2 3, arranged consecutively. A sufficient space intervenes between each of the figures 1 2 3 in a group to allow them to successively appear before sight-apertures 25,which are made oppositely in the face-plates 3 at, as shown on plate 3 in Fig. 1; and to retain the dial-wheels 22 at any desired point of adjustment for the exhibition of a similar number on each dialwheel opposite the sightapertures 25 the edges of the wheels are notched to produce evenly-spaced V-shaped indentations 26, that are successively engaged by the free end of the laterally-elastic detent-springs 27. The circle of grouped figures just described and which appear in consecutive order before the sight-aperture 25 are intended to present the number of strikes made by each man as the same are executed and so decided by the umpire. The inner circular rows of figures Z) are arranged as shown, and each consists of a group of four numerals 1, arranged successively, and then a group of four numerals 2 arranged in the same manner, and at the end of the last group of figures the numeral 3 is placed, or there may be more numerals of the last-mentioned denomination than one placed on each dial-Wheel to complete the indicating circle of numerals b.

The row of grouped numerals b are designed to appear one at a time before the sight-apertures 26, formed in the face-plates 3 4 at a proper point to permit such a display, and each represents a man out on bases or struck out, as the case may be. The dial-wheels 22 may be rotated in either direction, but will be retained at any desired point by the detent-springs 27, as before stated.

On the face-plates 3 4, in alignment with and on the right side of each sight-aperture 26, the word Out is placed, and to the left of the sight-apertu res 25 the word Strike is affixed on each face-plate, so that a glance will show the inning, its first or second half, the number of strikes made in the half-inning, and the outs or strikes on bases throughout the game.

The device is preferably supported upon an upright standard B,which engages a socket 28, formed on the casing A; or the case may have a ring 29 secured on its upper surface near the openings 5,Which ring may be utilized tovsuspend the device upon a nail or other similar projection from a wall or fixed post. (Not shown.)

Any suitable material may be used for the construction of the casing A and contained mechanism, and it may be made in such a compact form as will permit the complete register and indicator to be carried in the pocket, if desired.

Where the register and indicator is employed in its larger form to exhibit the points of a game to spectators and players simultancously, it should be located near the homeplate in charge of a responsible score-keeper, who, when the game starts, places all the indicating devices contained in the casingA at zero by manipulating the hand-wheels 10,indeX-levers 1G 18, and crank-handles 24, and as the game progresses the innings are recorded, and the respective scoressuch as the runs, strikes, and put outson each side are indicated, so as to afford a complete progress ive record of the game that may be viewed by all concerned.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. Abase-ball-game register and indicator having a case and two dial-wheels in the case, which are revolubly supported and provided with means to manually rotate them, said dialwheels having each two concentric circular rows of figures, each row arranged in groups, one row on each Wheel being adapted to show a numeral at a sight-hole in the case and indicate the number of strikes made by a player, the other row of grouped figures exhibiting by one of its series the number of players put out in an inning of the game, substantially as set forth.

2. In a base-balhgame register and indicator, the combinatiomwith a case, of four revoluble wheels within that are supported con centrically, two wheels being larger in diameter than the other two wheels, ratchet-teeth peripherally cut on all these wheels, adet-ent pawl and spring for each wheel, series of numbers on each wheels side face that are adapted to successively appear before sight-holes in the opposite face-plates of the case when the wheels are revolved in the proper direction, and levers that are attached to the wheel-supports and adapted to rotate said Wheels when manually operated, substantially as set forth.

GUSTAVE DEIMEL. lVitnesses:

Josnrn O. WEIsMILLER, CHARLES LINDER. 

